2014 cycling and pedestrian report tidbits

Every year since 2003, the Alliance for Biking and Walking has taken the pulse of efforts to improve bicycle and pedestrian options within communities nationwide. The 2014 report, Bicycling and Walking in the United States, runs 268 pages. Here are some tidbits:

One percent of all trips taken in the United States are by bicycle; 10.4 percent are on foot.

Of commuters nationwide, 2.8 percent get to work by walking and 0.6 percent travel via bicycle. [In Canada, according to Statistics Canada’s 2011 National Household Survey—with almost a third of all households surveyed—5.7 percent of commuters walked and 1.3 percent cycled. Victoria, B.C., had the highest rate in the country, with 10 percent walking and 5.9 percent cycling.—GS ]

These numbers are slightly higher in large U.S. cities (five percent and one percent, respectively).

In Copenhagen, 52 percent commute by bike, with commuters travelling an aggregate of 745,000 miles every day.

Since 2010, 11 states and 12 of the nation’s 52 most populous cities have added new goals to increase bicycling and walking or to decrease bicycle and pedestrian fatalities.

Fifty-two of the most populous cities have a combined total of more than 8,600 miles of bicycle lanes.

Amount of federal money spent, per person, on highway and road projects in 2012: $127.00. [In Canada, according to Share the Road (2014), the amount is $50.—GS ]

Federal money spent, per person, on biking and pedestrian projects in 2012: $3.10. [In Canada, according to Share the Road (2014), the amount is 87 cents.—GS ]

Since 1980, the national pedestrian fatality rate fell from 3.6 deaths per 100,000 people to 1.4 per 100,000. Detroit and Jacksonville, Florida, with more than four pedestrian deaths per 100,000 people in 2011, have the highest fatality rates in the nation.

Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg made biking a priority, adding more than 300 miles of bike lanes in his 12 years in office.

The 10 square miles of Davis, California—consistently ranked as the most bike-friendly city in the country—has more than 100 miles of bike lanes.

Copenhagen and Amsterdam combined have 490 miles.

Brian Bienkowski is a staff writer for the Daily Climate and its sister publication, the Environmental Health News. The Daily Climate is an independent, foundation-funded news service covering energy, the environment, and climate change.

2 Comments

Biker Ben

out at night

May 7, 2014 at 11:52am

more and more bike lanes appearing in places we never thought we'd see them, like North Vancouver; where 5 years ago you took your life in your hands, now you can go end to end along gorgeous, ample bike routes that (gasp) aren't even badly designed and built!

Wow!

Something's up, and I'm guessing that in a few years from now we'll see a lot more cyclists out there enjoying these facilities. Right now there's not nearly enough of us out there. Come on people!